Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
Four Seasons Costa Rica is a high-end eco-resort located in the jungle of Peninsula Papagyo, designed by prominent Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher and his firm Zürcher Arquitectos, with interiors by Paul Duesing Partners. Led by Peninsula Papagayo developers Mohari and Gencom, the property completed a renovation at the end of 2023. The build included a refresh of common areas and dining concepts with laidback aesthetics in refined neutral tones, adding a stylish beach club, and erecting a Wellness Shala at the peak of its 1,400 acre reserve. “We have worked with an international team of designers and architects, from Mexico to Greece, to create a contemporary coastal resort lifestyle,” says Ian-Robert Ciappara, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo.
Occupying the land between two beaches, one shoring the open ocean and the other a more tame bay, the heart of the hotel consists of two blocks of low-profile guest rooms, three separate pools, and several restaurants. The property hits all the marks for relaxation–guests can amble from body of water to the next, only marking time for meals at one of many options and never leaving campus. The lush landscaping of towering palms and vibrant tropical flowers is effortless as though it has always existed and attracts visits from butterflies, hummingbirds, and the occasional monkey and coati. Though guests are made to feel as if they’re in the jungle, creature comforts like a plush towel or a masterfully curated cocktail menu are never far. Incorporating the luxurious expectations of the brand into the property’s natural surroundings, the perceived thresholds of interiors and outdoors are blurred.
The crowning achievement of the remodel is the Shala, representing an investment into the resort’s future wellness programming and a commitment to guests’ holistic experiences. Perched on a ridge, it straddles the two bodies of water, offering quiet respite and isolation from the resort below. Inspired by the natural grace of the Guanacaste winds, the open-air pavilion invokes the feeling of being sheltered by a giant mushroom. Like a wellness tree house, guests can flow to the sounds of chirping birds and the wild ocean waves. With endless views in three directions, programming in the Shala is capped by golden-hued sunrises and sunsets. Conceptualized by Mexican architects Luis Alejandro Cuesta and Javier Creuheras, the founders of Arquitectura Mixta, the Shala’s design was guided by bio-architecture and sustainability, incorporating local artisans and the use of bamboo, locally sourced wood, and thatched roof. “Our goal is to offer guests an unparalleled opportunity to tune in with nature and culture while nurturing their well-being.”
At sea level, guest rooms are finished in dark, cozy wood tones offering a welcome sense of shelter after a day outdoors. Each has a screened-in terrace that faces either shore and is furnished in minimal lounges. The spa, also refreshed at the end of last year, blends local materials and the surrounding environment. A hydrotherapy terrace sits at the treeline of the western shore, where stone-carved hot and cold plunge pools face the ocean, setting the ideal atmosphere for a sunset soak.
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